(Des Moines, Iowa) The third day of the USATF Jr. National Championships dawned cloudy and humid and by mid-morning the rumble of thunder echoed around Drake Stadium. Cornerstone freshman, Michael Mahon sat with the other competitors in the hammer throw in the clerking tent waiting to be led to the throwing venue when the rain started. 

A thunderclap exploded nearby and spectators and athletes were evacuated from the stadium. For the next 30 minutes, Mahon sat in the Knapp Basketball arena watching youtube videos of Olympic shot putter, Reese Hoffa with coach Rod Wortley. The all-clear announcement came and Mahon moved back to the staging area. Once the officials cleared the water out of the circle, competition began slightly behind schedule.

First up in the first of two flights, Mahon's first attempt sailed 179' 4" and remained his best of three attempts and placed third in the flight.  After the second flight, Mahon stood fifteenth.  Of the 23 athletes in the field, four were from Michigan schools. Darien Thorton of Grand Valley State placed third with a throw of 221' 4" with Dylan Banagis of Central Michigan ninth at 191' 6" and Anthony Jones of Eastern Michgian 21^st with a throw of 170'. Rudy Winkler from New York won with a mark of 245' 5".